1
|
Chetta M, Cammarota AL, De Marco M, Bukvic N, Marzullo L, Rosati A. The Continuous Adaptive Challenge Played by Arboviruses: An In Silico Approach to Identify a Possible Interplay between Conserved Viral RNA Sequences and Host RNA Binding Proteins (RBPs). Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11051. [PMID: 37446229 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change and globalization have raised the risk of vector-borne disease (VBD) introduction and spread in various European nations in recent years. In Italy, viruses carried by tropical vectors have been shown to cause viral encephalitis, one of the symptoms of arboviruses, a spectrum of viral disorders spread by arthropods such as mosquitoes and ticks. Arboviruses are currently causing alarm and attention, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has released recommendations to adopt essential measures, particularly during the hot season, to restrict the spreading of the infectious agents among breeding stocks. In this scenario, rapid analysis systems are required, because they can quickly provide information on potential virus-host interactions, the evolution of the infection, and the onset of disabling clinical symptoms, or serious illnesses. Such systems include bioinformatics approaches integrated with molecular evaluation. Viruses have co-evolved different strategies to transcribe their own genetic material, by changing the host's transcriptional machinery, even in short periods of time. The introduction of genetic alterations, particularly in RNA viruses, results in a continuous adaptive fight against the host's immune system. We propose an in silico pipeline method for performing a comprehensive motif analysis (including motif discovery) on entire genome sequences to uncover viral sequences that may interact with host RNA binding proteins (RBPs) by interrogating the database of known RNA binding proteins, which play important roles in RNA metabolism and biological processes. Indeed, viral RNA sequences, able to bind host RBPs, may compete with cellular RNAs, altering important metabolic processes. Our findings suggest that the proposed in silico approach could be a useful and promising tool to investigate the complex and multiform clinical manifestations of viral encephalitis, and possibly identify altered metabolic pathways as targets of pharmacological treatments and innovative therapeutic protocols.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Chetta
- U.O.C. Medical and Laboratory Genetics, A.O.R.N., Cardarelli, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Lisa Cammarota
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Schola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, 84084 Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | - Margot De Marco
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Schola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, 84084 Baronissi, SA, Italy
- FIBROSYS s.r.l. Academic Spin-Off, University of Salerno, 84084 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Nenad Bukvic
- Medical Genetics Section, University Hospital Consortium Corporation Polyclinics of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Liberato Marzullo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Schola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, 84084 Baronissi, SA, Italy
- FIBROSYS s.r.l. Academic Spin-Off, University of Salerno, 84084 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Alessandra Rosati
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Schola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, 84084 Baronissi, SA, Italy
- FIBROSYS s.r.l. Academic Spin-Off, University of Salerno, 84084 Baronissi, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Alvarado-Esquivel C, Hernandez-Tinoco J, Sanchez-Anguiano LF, Ramos-Nevarez A, Cerrillo-Soto SM, Salas-Pacheco JM, Sandoval-Carrillo AA, Martinez-Ramirez L, Antuna-Salcido EI, Guido-Arreola CA. Rubella Immune Status in Pregnant Women in a Northern Mexican City. J Clin Med Res 2016; 8:656-61. [PMID: 27540439 PMCID: PMC4974835 DOI: 10.14740/jocmr2635w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The seroepidemiology of rubella virus infection in pregnant women in northern Mexico is largely unknown. We sought to determine the seroprevalence of rubella virus infection in pregnant women in the northern Mexican city of Durango, Mexico. Seroprevalence association with the socio-demographic, clinical and behavioral characteristics of the pregnant women was also investigated. METHODS Through a cross-sectional study, we determined the seroprevalence of IgG and IgM anti-rubella virus in 279 pregnant women (mean age 29.17 ± 5.96 years; range 15 - 43 years) attending in a clinic of family medicine using enzyme-linked fluorescent assays. A questionnaire was used to obtain the socio-demographic, clinical and behavioral characteristics of the pregnant women. The association of rubella seropositivity and characteristics of the women was assessed by bivariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS Anti-rubella IgG antibodies (≥ 15 IU/mL) were found in 271 (97.1%) of the 279 pregnant women examined. None of the 279 pregnant women were positive for anti-rubella IgM antibodies. Multivariate analysis of socio-demographic, clinical and behavioral variables showed that seroreactivity to rubella virus was positively associated with national trips (OR = 7.39; 95% CI: 1.41 - 38.78; P = 0.01), and negatively associated with age (OR = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.06 - 0.99; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Rate of rubella immunity in pregnant women in the northern Mexican city of Durango is high. However, nearly 3% of pregnant women are susceptible to rubella in our setting. Risk factors associated with rubella seropositivity found in this study may be useful for optimal design of preventive measures against rubella and its sequelae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Jesus Hernandez-Tinoco
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Luis Francisco Sanchez-Anguiano
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Agar Ramos-Nevarez
- Clinica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico
| | - Sandra Margarita Cerrillo-Soto
- Clinica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico
| | - Jose Manuel Salas-Pacheco
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Ada Agustina Sandoval-Carrillo
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Lucio Martinez-Ramirez
- Clinica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Irasema Antuna-Salcido
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Carlos Alberto Guido-Arreola
- Clinica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|